A CHANGE OF HEART BY GOD THE GREAT CARDIOLOGIST

Christian Times Magazine issue 62 page 29

By Dr. Georgette Nichols

I (and my Uncle Bill) listened to a sermon by Dr. John MacArthur about how if we believe in God we must also believe God controlled our emotions, our lives, our interactions and our hearts. Dr. MacArthur talked about how God was/is a Cardiologist. This spurred my desire and I decided to do some digging in all matters of the heart. I wished to learn about the heart shape origin, the origin of the word “heart” and the instances of heart in the Bible. The name and the heart shape/symbol resided in great curiosities and some conspiracies. These even went back to ancient lore.

Apollo was cited as the one who gave Greeks,” the gift no one would forget” Silphium.

Christian Times Magazine issue 62

page 30 Hippocrates, the father of medicine, prescribed Silphium for a tummy tuck effect. Silphium was a plant similar to celery and from a similar genus Ferula. Why am I talking about an extinct celerylike plant in an article about the heart? The heart symbol is believed to be derived from the shape of the Silphium seed. Silphium was many things; an aphrodisiac, an essential item of trade due to the resin, a spice for food and subsequently acted as an abortion pill. Rumor was the last existing Silphium plant was given to Nero. Even Julius Cesar was said to have stored the precious Silphium plants in his treasury… Later the image of the Silphium seeds would be embossed on coins and vases in lands conquered by the Romans. Some references state the Greeks cultivated the plant mostly in Cyrene but the Romans learned to use the herb to the fullest potential perhaps as an abortion pill. A monthly dose of the Silphium seed, the size of a chickpea, was all that was needed to terminate a pregnancy.

Ironically today the Silphium seed on the coin has morphed into the heart emoji.

The lore of Silphium ends with the extinction of the seed due to increased consumption. The ancient civilizations actually ate the plant unto extinction! Now that the heart symbol (ironically from a medicinal plant) has been established let us examine the word heart. The Hebrew word for heart was often combined with a few other synonyms strung together for emphasis.

Silphium seed

Christian Times Magazine issue 62

page 31 Such can be seen in the Shema, a Jewish prayer. The Hebrew word for heart is levav or lev. Jewish people commonly pray the Shema which mentioned the word heart. The Biblical reference for the Shema is Deuteronomy 6:5-9; “Love the Lord your God will all your heart (levav or lev) and with all your soul and with all your strength (or might).” The Hebrew text does not mention the brain or mind as we understand them. The Hebrew text referenced the heart as the entire being of man- encompassing the mind. An interesting thing to note some state there is no exact Hebrew word for brain in the Bible. The closest word being lebab which translates to inner man, mind, will, or heart. The word heart is mentioned in some translations of the Bible 826 times whereas the word brain is not mentioned once. God seems to be more concerned with the heart than the brain by mere reference. But as mentioned before in Hebrew language the mind (or brain?) and the heart are almost synonymous. Looking to Aristotle he said, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” Something more intriguing can be seen with the heart when we study the origin and meaning in the English language. The etymology of the word heart stems from Old English heorte “heart (hollow muscular organ that circulates blood); breast, soul, spirit, will, desire; courage; mind, and intellect.” The word heart regardless of the origin is defined the same. The more secular Shakespeare mentioned the heart many times and it was referenced in Macbeth; “False face must hide what the false heart doth know.” This might be translated to modern day; a fakeness which resided in the heart has to be disguised by an outward face. The heart also gave life through God. The heart as mentioned in the Bible gives you life. God can give you the desires of your heart. The Bible states the heart gives you life in Proverbs 4:23; “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” God wants us to keep our hearts with diligence focused on HIM and the Godly mission of life. Sometimes a change of heart is not directed toward God.

God being God controls all outcomes whether good or bad for HIS will while factoring in the heart’s desire. This must be a huge endeavor. God can even change our heart’s desires to fulfill HIS will. Deuteronomy 30:6 says; “And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart.” Circumcising the heart inferred God preformed an actual procedure on your heart/spirit which could affect the outcome of generations. God changed hearts in history as well; for example Ashoka of India. He waged a bloody war and burned 500 concubines to death then

Christian Times Magazine issue 62 later regretted his evil. The regret was brought on when he gained a moral conscience in Buddhism. Sometimes the outcome of a changed heart was another religion sometimes it was towards God.

Sometimes a change of heart is away from good outcomes such as with Benedict Arnold. Benedict Arnold, a patriotic Major General, in the Revolutionary War betrays America later fighting for the British. Quite the change of heart Benedict. Do not forget the outcome of your choice was initiated and controlled by God in your heart. Fear not God looks at the heart not our appearance; 1 Samuel 16:7. In relation to God the heart and its complexity is quite bizarre and confusing for us mere mortals.

How do we know God still plans our steps revealing His will and our hearts desires regardless of our choices? Proverbs 16:9 states: “A man’s heart plans his way. But the Lord directs his steps.” A perfect example was Pharaoh. Exodus 7:3-4 “But I (God/Lord) will harden Pharaoh’s heart and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you…”

This was seen with Pharaoh and even President Biden who changed his heart toward abortion. Senator Biden once in 1982 voted to overturn Roe v. Wade but now seems assuaged otherwise- to kill the unborn. Both outcomes showed a hardened heart towards the goodness seen in God’s will. A metamorphosis of the heart may be towards God! Regardless the outcome of the heart; God was/is in control. God even compared it to gambling but He has the house; Proverbs 16:33,” The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.”

God’s will and your heart’s desires also depends on your heart’s programming. What we program to our heart coupled with God spurs the metamorphosis. Psalm 37:4 “Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Knowing someone as omnipotent as God is in control of life’s variables such as the heart’s desire should bring us great comfort. This comfort should allow us to draw closer to Him. But we must search for God with our heart to achieve this comfort, peace and wholeness in God. If we search God will present himself, says Jeremiah 29:13, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for ME with all your heart.” The searching of the heart might cause a change of the heart; look at Saul/Paul in the New Testament he persecuted Christians to death then later became a Christian himself. The change occurred because of a visit from Jesus. Paul had a major change of heart. Paul died a martyr likely due to beheading

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Christian Times Magazine issue 62 under the persecution of the Romans. This persecution was likely led by Nero. Who just so happened to love Silphium. If you do not know, the aphrodisiac loving Nero later killed himself to avoid his pending fate.

Another example of the heart’s desire changed by the Lord can be seen with C.S. Lewis and my late Uncle Bill. Uncle Bill joined our God in Heaven June 7, 2022 before we finished this article together. He taught physics and math for over 50 years. He even tutored me throughout college so that I might complete my doctorate degree in pharmacy. One of the last things Uncle Bill and I spoke about was how to write about Dr. Macarthur’s phrase uttered- God the Cardiologist. Uncle Bill and I had planned the outline together for this article while we both went our separate ways to research. I must confess most of my ideas for my articles stemmed from Saturday breakfast conversations with Uncle Bill or late night phone calls discussing the Bible and current events. I should mention our heart’s desires change with us as we age. For example Uncle Bill began life following God and drifted away during college years like we all tend to do- C.S. Lewis and myself included. In college we tend to research the why and the how for the reasons of the World but ignore the WHO-GOD. Uncle Bill always calmly added in passing, “College and Doctorate programs are for affirming man as a God. Whereas the Bible shows you who God is and where He resides- your heart. “Uncle Bill would devote the last 25 years of his life to being a student in God’s word. Uncle Bill would teach God’s word during Sunday school and silently ghost write with me for Christian Times Magazine until his death. Consider this, both men in their youth may not have searched with their heart’s to follow God’s will for their life. Regardless the initial pursuit a change of heart occurred, C.S. Lewis would turn from atheist to God’s child whereby writing Christian children’s books. Subsequently because of his literature works; children would search for God with the desires of their hearts! Same might be said for Uncle Bill, to a smaller scale of course. He died writing alongside me about God. We wrote weaving current and past events with Scripture. Together we hoped for a pleasant narrative of mere words which might influence others to seek God with their hearts. Perhaps this article touched your heart. Remember to prepare our hearts for God. God told us distinctly in the Bible what we must do to keep our heart’s focused on HIM; Proverbs 3:4 “ Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, Trust in the Lord with all you heart, And lean not on your own understanding. “

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Christian Times Magazine issue 62 page 34

God reaffirmed through David in Psalms 31:24, “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.” We can gather strength from God if we seek Him. God orchestrates the programming and desires of our heart but also heals it through medicine. In fact in Proverbs 17:22; “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.” God the Great Cardiologist not only preforms procedures but tells us what medicine will fix our heart.